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4 Kinds of DNA for Genetic Genealogy

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the different “kinds” of DNA and how they can be used for genetic genealogy.

It used to be simple. When this “industry” first started, in the year 2000, you could test two kinds of DNA and it was straightforward. Now we’ve added more DNA, more tools and more testing companies and it’s not quite so straightforward anymore.

Here’s a basics primer.

1. Y-line DNA – tests the Y chromosome which is passed from father to son, along, in most cases, with the surname. Only men can test for this, because only men have a Y chromosome, leaving female genealogists with Y chromosome envy, having to go and beg their fathers, brothers, uncles and male cousins to test for the surnames in question. We compare the results of the Y chromosome test between males to see if they match and are related in a genealogical timeframe. We also obtain the haplogroup which defines deep ancestry, such as European, African, Asian or Native American. Surname, haplogroup and other interest projects (such as Acadian, American Indian, Cumberland Gap, etc.) exist for both Y-line and mitochondrial DNA at Family Tree DNA. These projects are indispensable for both genealogy and genetic genealogy research. Family Tree DNA is currently the only testing company that offers this these tests.

2. Mitochondrial DNA – is passed from mothers to both genders of her children, but only passed on by females. Males carry their mother’s mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) but they don’t pass it on. We compare mutations to see of people share an ancestor in a genealogical timeframe, but because the surname changes in every generation, it’s more difficult genealogically to make the connections. The lack of a central data base prevents people from being able to determine if others from the same genetic line have already tested. For Y-line, surname projects and surname matches provide this function. Mitochondrial DNA testing also provides a haplogroup which defines deep ancestry, such as European, African, Asian or Native American. Family Tree DNA is the only commercial company to offer full sequence testing which is sometimes necessary to determine whether a match is really genealogically relevant. When testing the HVR1 or HVR1 and HVR2 regions only, meaning the participant did not purchase the full sequence test, Family Tree DNA doesn’t just “estimate” haplogroups, but runs a panel of 22 SNPs to accurately assign a haplogroup for the participant.

The paths of inheritance for both the Y-line, blue, and the mitochondrial DNA, red, are shown below. If you’d like more specific information about how this works, with some examples, you can download the paper, DNA Testing for Genealogy – the Basics, from my website, www.dnaexplain.com under the Publications tab.

3. Autosomal DNA – tests the rest of the DNA provided by both parents on the 23 chromosomes, not just two direct lines, as with Y-line and mitochondrial DNA. Older tests of this type tested between 21 and about 300 markers, but current generation testing provided by Family Tree DNA (Family Finder test), 23andMe and AncestryDNA test use about 700,000 locations and are in an entirely different category in terms of their usefulness and accuracy to genealogists. These tests provide a list of cousins from all of your lines, but it’s up to you to figure out how these cousins are related to you. The testing companies provide different tools to help in this quest. All three companies provide the ability to download your raw data results so that you can do further analysis personally and by using several online tools, the most popular being GedMatch. AncestryDNA, the autosomal test through Ancestry.com, is deficient in matching tools, providing no chromosome mapping or comparison capabilities, leaving customers significantly in the dark as compared to the tools at Family Tree DNA, 23andMe and GedMatch. Autosomal tests also provide an estimate of percentages of ethnicity. In 2015, 23andMe began a process of redesigning their website and products to go along with their new FDA compliance and focus on selling DNA to medical research partners, to the detriment of genetic genealogy. Previously existing features are gone and the price has doubled, effectively removing 23andMe as a viable player in the genetic genealogy arena.

The inheritance paths for autosomal DNA are shown below. You can see that this includes all of the various ancestral lines, including the lines that contribute the Y-line and mitochondrial, but those are separate and different tests providing different kinds of information.

4. The X Chromosome – has special inheritance properties that allow people to use these results separately from the rest of the autosomal results, although the X chromosome is a part of the 23 sets of chromosomes used for autosomal testing. The inheritance paths are different for males and females, because males only inherit an X chromosome from their mother (and a Y from their father which makes them male), but women inherit an X from both of their parents. I show these charts and discuss how to use the X Chromosome for genealogy, giving two examples, in my blog posting, X Marks the Spot. The best way to functionally use the X information is to diagram your family lines that contributed to your X chromosome using your pedigree chart and Blaine Bettinger’s charts, found in my blog (and his previously) and upload your results to www.GedMatch.com. GedMatch provides X chromosomal matching utilities along with lots of other DNA analysis and comparison tools. GedMatch is free, but donations are encouraged and appreciated.

This standard disclosure appears at the bottom of every article in compliance with the FTC Guidelines.

Hot links are provided to Family Tree DNA, where appropriate. If you wish to purchase one of their products, and you click through one of the links in an article to Family Tree DNA, or on the sidebar of this blog, I receive a small contribution if you make a purchase. Clicking through the link does not affect the price you pay. This affiliate relationship helps to keep this publication, with more than 850 articles about all aspects of genetic genealogy, free for everyone.

I do not accept sponsorship for this blog, nor do I write paid articles, nor do I accept contributions of any type from any vendor in order to review any product, etc. In fact, I pay a premium price to prevent ads from appearing on this blog.

When reviewing products, in most cases, I pay the same price and order in the same way as any other consumer. If not, I state very clearly in the article any special consideration received. In other words, you are reading my opinions as a long-time consumer and consultant in the genetic genealogy field.

I will never link to a product about which I have reservations or qualms, either about the product or about the company offering the product. I only recommend products that I use myself and bring value to the genetic genealogy community. If you wonder why there aren’t more links, that’s why and that’s my commitment to you.

Thank you for your readership, your ongoing support and for purchasing through the affiliate link if you are interested in making a purchase at Family Tree DNA.

_____________________________________________________________________

Standard Disclosure

This standard disclosure appears at the bottom of every article in compliance with the FTC Guidelines.

Hot links are provided to Family Tree DNA, where appropriate. If you wish to purchase one of their products, and you click through one of the links in an article to Family Tree DNA, or on the sidebar of this blog, I receive a small contribution if you make a purchase. Clicking through the link does not affect the price you pay. This affiliate relationship helps to keep this publication, with more than 900 articles about all aspects of genetic genealogy, free for everyone.

I do not accept sponsorship for this blog, nor do I write paid articles, nor do I accept contributions of any type from any vendor in order to review any product, etc. In fact, I pay a premium price to prevent ads from appearing on this blog.

When reviewing products, in most cases, I pay the same price and order in the same way as any other consumer. If not, I state very clearly in the article any special consideration received. In other words, you are reading my opinions as a long-time consumer and consultant in the genetic genealogy field.

I will never link to a product about which I have reservations or qualms, either about the product or about the company offering the product. I only recommend products that I use myself and bring value to the genetic genealogy community. If you wonder why there aren’t more links, that’s why and that’s my commitment to you.

Thank you for your readership, your ongoing support and for purchasing through the affiliate link if you are interested in making a purchase at Family Tree DNA, or one of the affiliate links below:

178 thoughts on “4 Kinds of DNA for Genetic Genealogy”

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My mother, brother, husband and I have tested on 23andme. My husnand and I have recently tested on Ancestry.com. Both tests reflect Native American back about 5 generations for my brother and I. My husband’s further back.

Do We have to test on FTDNA also? Some surnames are Lucas-Locust, Roberts, Archer, Newsome, Bunch, etc. From Robeson, Wilson and Nash Counties. Some moved to OH and IN in the early 1800’s.

Nine years ago I did a basic Mitochondrial dna test for National Genographic project, and I did upload to Family Tree DNA. I am very much a lay person to all of this, so bear with me. My goal as a female is to find female relatives who have also tested, so what are my goals for testing further (What type of tests can I expect to order?) Also will the testing be done on my old sample if I order through FT DNA? This is all so fascinating, and I want to weigh smart financial investment with getting questions answered regarding genetic lineage.

My understanding is that if you tested through the earlier Geno project, you can update your results from that sample. If not, the worst that happens is that they send you a new kit. Some older samples aren’t viable anyway.

You can do two three things. One is to update your mtDNA to full sequence. You may find other females relatives in a genealogy timeframe, or maybe not. It depends on who has tested. You can also take the Family Finder test which shows relatives on all sides. It’s up to you to pare them down to the matrilineal line. To help with that, if there is anyone in your family who also descends from the matrilineal line, test them as well. Any reasonable sized matches you have in common would (probably) come from that common ancestor, AND if you match a third person on that same segment, it’s then triangulated.

Shalom , For several years I have been walking around the lake looking into the water wondering what it will feel like to jump into the deep. I never really like wading pools.. So when I go I like to go all the way. My father as much as we know is of Cherokee born 1920 south Texas and My mother aleut, unalaska alaska, I want to know for our sons and grandchildren who we are and where did they come from, not like myself a face without a past. Thank you for what you have provided. Will you offer some direction?

I did my DNA about 15 years ago with you and now, you are doing it again. I am seeking my Mother’s fathers line which is Native Canadian. Will this be included in my DNA testing? Without a willing male relative, how can I access my Mom’s Dad’s line? I do have her hair…but again, would that show anything of her father?

“With me.” Nope, not with me. I’m not a testing company. Your mother’s father’s direct Y line is not reflected in her DNA. Your mother’s DNA does reflect some of her father’s heritage, just not his Y DNA. You carry some of your mother’s father’s DNA too – autosomal. You can take an autosomal test to see who you match and how much Native you carry. At Family Tree DNA, the name of the autosomal test is the Family Finder test and you can join the Native American project as you search.

what is my best route to take my father was 3/4 native American and his father full blooded native American chief of a tribe and I’m a women. I took a dna test at ancestry but this test doesn’t tell me about my fathers side with the native American. Or does it and I’m not reading it right. Should I do testing somewhere else. What to do? Help!! Thanks.

I have always been told that I was Scotch, Irish, Welsh and French. Ran my DNA with Ancestry and it came back with these 4 at 48%, and also came back with 52% European Jewish. Quite a shock. Even a different ethnicity. So am I Jewish? Could there be a mistake? I’ve always been interested in the Jewish people.